Butter or other material slicer



Aug. 23, 1949. J. N. BAALBERGEN 2,479,712

BUTTER OR OTHER MATERIAL SLICER Filed New' 9, 1945 I 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 23, 1949. J. N. BAALBERGEN 2,479,712

BUTTER OR OTHER MATERIAL SLICER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 9, 1945 JIM Baal 367798774,

4/ YEN TO K J. N. BAALBERGEN 2,479,712

BUTTER OR OTHER MATERIAL SLICER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 9, 1945 MBaa 75 7178 72/,

@fw -m W /WK Patented Aug. 23, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 17 Claims.

This invention is a food cooler and section or pat slicer and while adapted for the successive issue of pats of butter from bars it has practical use in many realms.

It is an object of the invention to provide a food cooling and block or bar slicing machine,

hereinafter called a cutter, which is extremely simple, very efficient, is so constructed that all of its major parts may be easily and thoroughly washed and scrubbed to be kept in an attractive and sanitary condition, and then quickly assembled for operational use, and as easily dissociated for cleaning again as often as need be.

Moreover it is an object to provide a machine of this class that is light in weight and very compact so that, for industrial purposes, but a very small plan area is needed on a table or other suitable'support for disposition of the cutter.

Another purpose of the invention is to provide a machine for the instantaneous cut ofi of a cold slice of the butter for prompt service. The butter industry currently supplies packaged butter in elongated bars of a size four to the pound of butter and it is a purpose of this invention to provide a magazine machine constructed and designed so that a desired quantity of said bars may be disposed in the machine; each bar in its own separate cell of the magazine, and to proride for cutting a pat from the bottom of each bar as a bar may be brought rotatively to register with and for slicing action by a rigidly fixed cutter means. Bars may be stacked in column in the magazine.

A further object of the invention is to provide aunitary magazine and icing rotor in which a multiplicity of vertical butter bar cells and an inner and separate chamber for refrigerant are contained; the cells being so arranged as to said chamber that each cell is walled on three sides for highly efiicient chilling operation by the introduced ice, and having an open, window side for observation.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a butter cutter magazine whose several cells are bottomless and to provide a stationary, circular, imperforate track or butter shelf onto which each bar is at all times pulled by gravity, and around on which each bar is turned in an orbit by rotary action of the magazine. In this connection it is an object of the invention to providea. cutting element which is fixedly incorporated wi-th the stationary shelf. Also, as to. this shelf, it is an object to provide means to so adjust an offset end oi the shelf that the bar of butter being swung around in its orbit can be so raised or lowered in its magazine cell as to enable the slicing of pats of butter of different thicknesses; all being cut to the same thickness, from one bar after the other during rotation of the magazine, and all of the samethickness, successively from each bar.

Especially, an object is to provide means which will aid in the downward feed of each bar individually in its cell to the fixed cutter element, to

15 eliminate sticking of the bar to the cell walls.

The invention consists incertain advancements in this. art as set forth in the ensuing disclosure and having with the above, additional objects and advantages as hereinafter developed, and whose constructions, combinations, and sub-com binations, and details of means, and the manner of operation will be made manifest in the following description of the herewith illustrative embodiment, it being understood that modifications,

25 variations and adaptations may be resorted to within the scope, spirit and principles of the invention as herebelow claimed.

Figure I is a front elevation of the machine, as in use. Figure 2 is an axial, vertical section, some parts broken away. Figure 3 is a plan looking down on the top of the isolated, broken-away pedestal and its rim collar. Figure 4 is a plan of the circular track or shelf (one bar of butter being in place thereon). and Figure 5 is a front edge elevation of the shelf and its adjuster. Figure 6 is a. plan of a rotary ring base for the megazine. Figure I is a plan of the isolated magazine; showing in one cell the top end of a respective ejector and anti-sticking guard. Figure 8 is a top end plan of one of the electors with a bar of butter in place. Figure 9 is a front elevation of the loaded ejector riding on the butter supporting shelf during cutting operation. Fi .ure 10 is a front elevation of the ejector (unloaded) in its upper travelling position on the shelf. Figure 11 is a detail of the lower end of a pusher slide with its bottommost corner resting in running position on the shelf.

A suitable, tubular pedestal 2 has a floor 3 to which access is had by way of a handhole 4; the upper end of the said pedestal having a collar 5, Figs. 2 and 3, internally fitting in a readily detachable band 6. The band has an internal shoulder l lodging on the collar and removably fitting in the band and standing on the shoulder is a transparent insulating cover 8 to protect and yet display a magazine which has a desired number of external cells H each designed to receive and hold vertically a bar or block X of the food (or other material) to be handled in and by the machine.

The magazine as seen in Figs. 1, 2 and 7 is structurally a unit including-an annularly continuous, that is, unbr0ken,{ wall with re-entrant portions to form the several cells ll whose plan is here shown as square to conform with the cross-section of conventional bars of butter (in the instant adaptation) cells are diagonally connected by wall panels I2 and the inner corners of the cells are sufficiently spaced at l3 so that refrigerant can pass from 1 the unobstructed center ice chamber Id of the. magazine to the outer pockets I5 back of the panels I2. i

The magazine ice chamber M has a'bottom closure I5 below which the wall structure Il-l2 extends and has a series of L -slots [6 whereby to interhook the magazine solidly onto spokes I! of said band 9 which'is readily turnable on the collar 5 by means of a set of radial knobs l8 projecting outwardly from the band and each of which is adapted to be successively brought into approximate register with a finger rest l9 rigidly fixed on the front of the pedestal 2. The basering or band can be picked up from the pedestal and the magazine easily unhooked from the band to facilitate cleaning of the parts.

A distinctive feature of the invention is the means for directly supporting the vertical bars of butter at all positions in the circular orbit of the cells while the magazine is being rotated step by step on the collar of the pedestal, and which means constitutes the actual bottom of the cells throughout the cell orbit. Also this bar support hasthe function of slicing off the bottom end of each bar in successive and equithickness pats, and'in making such slices on one bar after the other as the magazine is rotated step by step. And further, this supporting'means includes a provision whereby to'readily adjust the machine cutting element to predetermin'e the thickness of the successive pats of butter. Additionally, the said supporting means, for the purpose of simplicity, low cost and cleanliness consists of but a single element constructed, de-

signed and arranged to effectively accomplish the said several functions in apractical manner.

In its preferred embodiment. the said bar support consistsof a nearlyflat, thin, suitably flexible and continuously circular trackor annular shelf 20 of a width to fully underlie the end face of a bar X, Fig. 4, standing vertically on the shelf; whose edges have reinforcing corrugations 2| to give desired stiffness and the outer edge of the ring shelf may be firmly but removably attached to adjacent crossbraces 22,'in the collar 5, as by screws 23, Fig. 5 The shelf 20 is radially slit at 20s across the outer corrugation 2| and is flattened at 20f. Fig. 5. The fiat has a slot 23s open to the slit to easily, removably slip under its screw 23 while the screw is in place on the brace 22. In operation, the bottom edge of the wall of the magazine turns freely just above the upper face of the bar shelf 20.

The outer corners of the several The forward portion of the annular shelf (near and above the handhole 4) is tangentially split as from its inner edge whereby to form a horizontal, elongate cutter element 25 which lies obliquely across the circular orbit in which the butter bars X sweep as the magazine is rotated by the turnable band 6. When the shelf 20 is fixed in place on the braces 22 the front cutter element portion 25 lies in a horizontal plane which is somewhat higher than the plane of the discharge end portion 26 of the ring shelf; Figs. 4 and 5 showing that as the rotating magazine pushes each bar end against the presented cutting: edge 25a that amount of the bar which is below the plane of the cutting element (or blade) 25 is easily severed and drops as it finally moves under the blade, Fig. 10. It is pointed out here that there is no large window at any point in the plane of the shelf through which the bar of butter can possibly fall at any time, and at any vertical adjustment of the shelf end 26 the butter bars are always standing or are travelling on the supporting shelf 20.

It is very desirable that the individual bars X shall at all times stand vertical so that square bottom cuts will be effected by the blade'25 even though the blade is not in the same plane as the discharge end 26 of the shelf. Therefore, the change of levels in the shelf is effected by way of a fairly narrow declivity 21 at the rear portion of the shelf on which the butter bar glides smoothly down from upper plane to the lower level of the shelf end 26.

A noticeable feature of. the invention is the provision of a device in each bar cell ll whereby to prevent the bar from objectionably adhering to the cell wall by reason of frictional resistance of the foot of the bar bearing on the stationary shelf 20 and especially because of the back pressure set up as the bar X moves against the interposed cutting blade 25. And further, said device has the additional purpose of ejecting the pat, being cut, off the discharge end 26 of the shelf. Having these operations in view the ejecting device in the form shown consists of a vertically disposed slide 28 (one for each cell) of rightangle cross-section, or plan, complementary to the shape of the wall forming each cell I I, the flange 28a. of the slide resting along the trailing (right hand, Fig. 7) cell wall and along the inner or back wall Ha. of the cell; thus the front of each cell is left'fully uncovered or open so that the contents of the loaded cells can be seen through the glass (or other material) cover 8 when the magazine is rotated. The slide has free vertical play in its cell and has hooks 28' at its top to retain it from tilting in the cell.

Each slide 28 has a feature operative during the action of the fixed blade 25 to cut off the foot end of the adjacent bar X, to cause the slide to rise vertically in its cell with respect to the bar X at the instant the said bar is engaged and being out, and at the same time the slide is operating to positively push the foot end of the bar firmly onto the interposed blade; the lower end of the bar which bears on the shelf end 26 at this instant passing under the relatively higher cutter 25 so that the bar is in effect interlocked with the cutter 25. During such interlock of the bar with the blade the slide 28 is forced to rise in its cell by the reaction of a downpresented edge of the cutter 25, as seen in Fig. 9.

The rotation of the magazine sweeps the bar X and the slide 28 fully onto the top of the blade except for the pat P which is pushed by the lowermost bottom corner 30 of the slide under the cutting part and off of the end edge of the stationary discharge endof the shelf; Fig. 10. Fig. 11 shows the bottom corner of a slide 28 in constant operating position of the shelf 20, and shows the clearance of the wall 28a over the screw 23 so that rotation of the slides'is unimpeded. The block X at all times rides on the top face of the track shelf.

When each bar X and the relative slide, in each cell I I, reaches the declivity 21 in the supporting shelf the slide and its bar X of butter gently ride down onto the lower shelf part 26 to again be rotated to the cutting part 25, cycle after cycle until each bar X is cut away. It is clear therefore that the bars are always kept on a vertical axis.

To effect the selection of pats of butter of different thicknesses by action of the machine the discharge end portion 26 of the somewhat flexible shelf 20 may be readily raised or lowered, as to the plane of the cutter 25, in any suitable manner, as by an eccentric 3| fixed on a crank shaft 32 supported in the collar 5; a steady arm 33 cooperating with the eccentric, if needed.

As each pat of butter is cut it falls to any suitable receptacle, placed in the hollow pedestal, to be handled through the handhole.

The shelf 20 is omitted from Fig. 3 to show the adjusting device 3! and the braces in the collar 5.

The outer corrugation 2| of the shelf is flattened as seen in Fig. 5 and in Fig. 4 for reception of the fastening screws 23 which pass through the margin of the shelf. to secure it to the brace 22, see Fig. 3. The path of the body X is therefore unobstructed.

What is claimed is:

l. A body slicing machine having, in combination, a support, a rotative magazine on said support and having cells for carrying upright bodies to be sliced off at the bottom, and a fixed, sub stantially continuously circular shelf on which the bodies bear during their complete cycle of an orbit by movement of the magazine; said shelf being slit inwardly at one side and the slit edges being slightly, substantially vertically offset to form a vertical clearanceway for horizontal discharge of a slice from the foot end of the body whilst concurrently bearing on the circularly closely juxtaposed end of the shelf.

2. The machine of claim 1, one end of the slit shelf constituting a horizontal cutting blade against which the magazine presses the foot end of each of the bodies in the cells during each cycle of the magazine.

3. The machine of claim 1, and means for vertically adjusting one slit edge portion of the shelf as to the other to regulate the vertical depth of the clearanceway.

4. A body slicing machine having, in combination, a support, a substantially continuous, generally horizontal ring shaped shelf fixed on said support and being slit in two at its front portion and the slit ends of the shelf being spaced substantially in a substantially vertical line one from the other, magazine rotative on the support adapted to receive and operative to orbitally sweep an inserted bo'dy around on the shelf; the latter presenting a substantially uninterrupted, generally horizontal face to the body to prevent escape thereof from the magazine; said displaced ends forming a vertical window, and fixed means to cut the lower end of the said body into successive slices which pass horizontally through the window while the magazine is rotated.

5. The machine of claim 4, said shelf having in its length a declivlty from the plane included in the upper surface of one portion of the shelf to the plane included in the upper surface of the other portion of said shelf and the slit end of the latter surface being substantially vertically below the slit end of the former surface.

6. The machine of claim 4; the two ends of the shelf having generally flat portions and the higher end of the shelf constituting a fixed cutting edge to intercept the orbitally moving body carried in the magazine.

'7. The machine of claim 4, said shelf consisting of a somewhat flexible element, and means for flexing the lower shelf end toward or from the upper end thereof to vary the height of the window.

8. The machine of claim 4, the higher end edge of the shelf constituting said cutting means, and shielding slides mounted in the magazine and carrying the inserted objects along the lower shelf end pressing them against the said cutting edge and ejecting the slice horizontally through the said window.

9. A body slicing machine having, in combination, a support, a, substantially completely annular shelf fixed on the support and which is inwardly split at one side with the split ends substantially vertically offset and the higher end edge forming a cutter, a magazine rotatively supported on said support, and a plurality of vertically movable slides mounted in the magazine to receive upright bodies to be cut by the cutter and riding on the support during rotation of the magazine and operative to press the bodies against said cutting edge and then eject the cut slices under the higher end of the shelf.

10. The machine of claim 9, and means to positively elevate the slides while the cut is being made and relative to the body while it is being out.

11. The machine of claim 10, the lower ends of the slides having cam faces to engage and be forced upward by a co-operative part of the fixed shelf.

12. The machine of claim 9, the magazine having a plurality of vertical cells and the slides being operatively mounted in the cells and operative to keep the inserted bodies from adhering to wall faces of the cells.

13. A machine for slicing vertical bars of butter or other adaptable material and including a pedestal having a top collar, an annular, inwardly split shelf removably attached to the pedestal at about the plane of the collar and having its ends substantially vertically offset, the higher end forming a cutter for the lower ends of the bars as they are swept in an orbit on the shelf, and a magazine rotatively mounted on and detachable from the collar, and having an annular series of cells to receive the bars and for pushing the bars in an orbit on the shelf and against the higher cutting-forming end of the shelf for making successive slices from the lower end of each bar as the bars are successively brought to the cutter.

14. The machine of claim 13, each cell having a vertically movable guard to prevent the bars from sticking in the cells and which guards operate to eject each slide from the lower end of the shelf.

15. The machine of claim 13, the magazine having a continuous wall with re-entrant portions forming the cells and having an ice chamber around which the cells lie in spacedrelation one from the other for efiective refrigeration.

16. A cutter of the class set forth including a pedestal having a top collar, a band rotatively mounted on the collar, 9, magazine having means by which it may be readily attached to and removed from the band, and an insulative, transparent cover mounted on and rotative with the band, and slicing means fixed in the collar and over which the magazine rotates.

17. The cutter of claim 16, the magazine having an external system of article cells surrounding and isolated by a refrigerant chamber.

JAMES N. BAALBERGEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

